Programming to Transition Psychological Experiments from SuperLab to Matlab

For the past six years, our laboratory has conducted experiments programmed in Superlab, a software package designed exclusively for psychological experiments. Although Superlab has some attractive features, it also has some severe limitations. For example, Superlab cannot read files, meaning that for an experiment in which each participant has a unique stimulus list, a unique program has to be assembled for each participant. For an experiment in which each participant has a unique order of conditions, a unique program with the conditions in that order has to be assembled for each participant. Preparing numerous unique programs provides numerous opportunities for errors. Matlab, with Psychophysics toolbox, permits these limitations to be surmounted so that there need be only one program prepared for an experiment. For example, a general Matlab program can read a file containing the unique stimulus list for each participant, or a table that contains condition orders for all participants. We will describe the program we have devised for a set of classification experiments. We will address some of the problems we have encountered and how we have solved them.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2018/1046/thumbnail.jp

Resistivity Studies On Mn Site Substituted LCMSO Manganites

Effect of Mn-site disorder in La0.67Ca0.33Mn1-xSbxO3 (LCMSO) created by the substitution of Sb5+ at Mn-site is studied through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature dependent resistivity measurements to identify the role of size mismatch at Mn-site and their resistivity property correlations. XRD patterns collected at room temperature for all the LCMSO samples reveal single phasic nature without any detectable impurities within the measurement range studied. XRD data shows that all the samples possess orthorhombic structure without any structural phase transition. Variation in resistivity with Sb5+ content has been discussed in detail in the context of modifications in the structural and magnetic lattices and structural disorder

EDTA contamination: a preanalytical cause for interference in iron and unsaturated iron binding capacity assay

Background: The aim of the study is focussed very keenly at performing RCA (root cause analysis) of those particular sample containing the absurd results of the Serum UIBC (Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity), which was also tallied vigilantly side by side with Serum Iron observed at Clinical Biochemistry laboratory of The New Civil Hospital Surat, Gujarat.Methods: The Absurd value from the samples requested for Serum Iiron and Serum Serum UIBC (Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity) from month of August 2018 till the month of August 2019 were taken in to account for analysis. RCA (root cause analysis) of absurd value for Serum Iron and Serum UIBC (Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity) which were prepared was mainly focused on tallying with Serum Calcium and Serum Potassium result.Results: With the continious and strenous monitoring from the side of the researchers, the researchers had throughly analysed and found that in almost all of those analysed test containing absurd results of Serum Iron and Serum UIBC(Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity) which were some way or the other, associated with absurd results of Serum Calcium along with absurd result of Serum Potassium too from the same samples.Conclusions: The Absurd results of Serum Calcium and Serum Potassium are caused mainly due to pre-analytical errors more likely due to the sample contamination with EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid). The contaminated EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid) sample cause interference in Serum Iron measurement by producing turbidity in sample and in Serum UIBC (Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity) by chelating Iron

Analysis of the Marketing Status of Insecticide Brands and Buying Behavior of Chilli Growers in Rajkot District, Gujarat, India

The present study was undertaken in Gondal, Jamkandorna, Upleta and Dhoraji talukas of Rajkot district, as all four talukas have higher areas under chilli cultivation. A total of 120 chilli growers and 20 insecticide dealers were selected with the help of a multistage sampling method. The study was mainly based on primary data, which were collected through personal interviews with the help of a well-structured survey schedule. The results showed that the highest percentage of chilli growers belonged to middle age group and had higher secondary education. The majority of the chilli growers belonged to small and semi-medium land-holding categories and had annual incomes between ₹2,59,036 to ₹5,91,582. Near about two-thirds (66.67 %) of chilli growers belonged to the nuclear family. The majority (37.50%) of the chilli growers were found engaged in farming with business as their occupation and the majority of chilli growers had farming experience of more than 15 years. Bore wells (56.87%) were reported as the main source of irrigation in the study area. The study also revealed that the highest market share was captured by Nagarjuna Agrichem Limited company followed by Bayer Crop Science and United Insecticides Pvt. Ltd. company. With regard to the mode of purchase of insecticides most of 40.00 per cent of the chilli growers used to purchase insecticides on a credit basis. So, companies should define and ease the conditions for credit availability, to make it convenient and affordable for both farmers and dealers. Most of the chilli growers were buying insecticides from retailer’s shops. The majority (45.83%) of chilli growers preferred to use the same brand with the same quantity when prices of selected insecticides changed (increased) and in the absence of the required insecticide brand; most (85.83%) chilli growers shifted to other insecticide brands. The insecticide companies should make the product available in the market as per the season and demand because if the grower will not get the desired product at the right time, they may switch to an alternative product

Marketing Status of Various Insecticide Brand and Buying Behaviour of Onion Growers in Amreli District, India

One of the most significant commercial vegetables is the onion (Allium cepa L.; Family: Amaryllidaceae). Onion is a cool season crop. India stands at second position in onion production after China in the world. In India, Gujarat stands at second position in onion cultivation after Maharashtra state. The present study has been undertaken  in Rajula, Savar Kundla, Khambha, and Dhari talukas of the Amreli district, as all four talukas have higher areas under onion cultivation. A multistage sampling technique was adopted to select the districts, talukas, and villages. Total 120 onion growers and 20 insecticide dealers were selected for the study. The study was mainly based on primary data, which were collected through personal interviews with the help of a structured survey schedule. The study revealed that the highest market share was captured by United Phosphorus Limited Company followed by Dhanuka Agritech Limited Company and Dharmaj Crop Guard Limited Company. The results showed that the highest percentage of onion growers belonged to the 35 to 50 age group and had a primary education level. Most of the onion growers belonged to semi-medium and small land-holding groups and had annual incomes between ₹ 2,27,693 to ₹ 5,10,058. The highest percentage of onion growers belonged to the farming + animal husbandry category. Bore wells were observed as the main source of irrigation in the study area. More than 50 per cent of onion growers belonged to the nuclear family. Most onion growers have more than 15 years of farming experience. It is also concluded that most of the growers bought onion insecticides from the dealers on a credit basis. Therefore, companies should define and ease the conditions for credit availability, so that it could be affordable for both farmers and dealers. Most of onion growers preferred the same brand and same quantity and shifted to other brands when insecticides were not available. Both farmers and dealers emphasized quality parameters while purchasing insecticide products, hence insecticide companies should highlight the quality parameters through better promotional activities

Effects of long day photoperiod on milk yield and circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-1 and prolactin in Jaffrabadi buffalo

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of long day photoperiod and showering on milk production and associative endocrine changes in lactating Jaffrabadi buffaloes between November, 2013 and May, 2014 at Cattle Breeding Farm, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (India) on twenty-four recently calved Jaffrabadi buffaloes for a total duration of 182 days. The treatment groups were T1 (control-Natural day photoperiod-NDPP), T2 (NDPP + showering twice a day), T3 (long day photoperiod of 18 h-LDPP) and T4 (LDPP + showering twice a day). The buffaloes were fed as per ICAR (2010) feeding standards to meet the nutritional demands of lactation. Supplemental lighting of 20 footcandle at eye level of buffaloes in T3 and T4 was provided by fluorescent lamps, controlled by automatic timer. Plasma was assayed for Insulin like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) and Prolactin (PRL) hormones by using ELISA kit. Buffaloes in T4 produced 27.68% (1.55 lit) more milk than control group of buffaloes, followed by T3 group of buffaloes producing 24.0% (1.35 lit) and T2 group of animals producing 8.93% (0.5 lit) more milk per day. Buffaloes exposed to LDPP showed greater concentrations of IGF-1 and prolactin than buffaloes exposed to NDPP. Exposure to LDPP and showering twice a day increased milk yield and circulating concentrations of IGF-1 and PRL in Jaffrabadi buffaloes indicating that IGF-1 and PRL are galactopoietic in dairy buffaloes and revealed physiological basis for possible endocrine mechanism for the galactopoietic response of both the hormones. LDPP along with showering twice a day produce synergetic effect on milk yield in Jaffrabadi buffaloes. These practices are simple to implement, easy to manage, profitable, cost effective and does not require any technological insertion and thus provide another management tool for dairy buffalo producers to enhance productivity and profitability

Estimation of particle size using a Novel method for Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

The paper introduces a cost effective method to develop zinc oxide nanoparticles using abundant non-toxic precursors and low energy process. In this paper, co-precipitation method with selected precursors was used for the first time to synthesize Zinc oxide nanoparticles without using any capping agent. The ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). By analyzing the results of XRD and SEM it was found that majority of ZnO nanoparticles pertain an average crystallite size of ~40 nm. These ZnO nanoparticles have potential commercial value in tailored product formulations to meet the specific demand of the consumer [1]

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance.

Investment in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences that have been generated and used to track the pandemic on the continent, a number that now exceeds 100,000 genomes. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries that are able to sequence domestically and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround times and more-regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and illuminate the distinct dispersal dynamics of variants of concern-particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron-on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve while the continent faces many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century